Boston native and Herbert Smith corporate
associate Adam Wells had a superlative 2006.
As one of the firm’s 12-strong US team in
London, Wells is often called on to advise on US
aspects of the biggest cross-border deals and the
choicest IPOs.
The past 12 months have been no exception. The
US-qualified lawyer started 2006 in style by being
part of the team that advised on QinetiQ’s £1.1bn
IPO. He then acted on July’s Standard Life £4.65bn
IPO, the largest UK flotation in 10 years, by advising
underwriters Merrill Lynch and UBS.
In October Wells led the Herbert Smith team that
won private equity house CVC Capital Partners as a
client for the first time, advising Dutch company
Wavin, in which CVC had an 81 per cent stake, on its
Euronext IPO.
Wells was previously at Davis Polk & Wardwell,
with which Herbert Smith has a referral relationship
and with which it has undertaken some headline
deals, including ICI’s November disposal of its
fragrance business to Herbert Smith client
Givaudan.
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